Marvel Publishing, Inc, a company engaging in business as Marvel Comics, produces Yankee comic books and related media. It forms a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. Marvel counts among its characters such well-known properties as Spider-Man, the Fantastic four, the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, the X-Men ( notably Wolverine ), and others. Most of Marvel's fictional characters operate in one single reality called the Marvel Universe.
The comic-book arm of the company started in 1939 as Timely Publications, and by the 1950s had often become known as Atlas Comics. Marvel's modern incarnation dates back to 1961, with the launching of fantastic four and other superhero titles made by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and others. Marvel has since become the biggest Yankee comic book publisher over long time competitor DC Comics.
